Meanwhile, the rest of the pogues had just gotten back on the island. They had docked the boat to see if they could find something to eat since they had been hungry. While in Charleston, the three of them had ran into John B and Sarah and they brought them back home with them. So, Sarah and Kiara were the ones to go and find something to eat while the three boys sat up on the boat waiting for them to come back. John B looked over at Pope, asking, "So, uh, what's up with this Kiara stuff there, big guy?"

"Uh, honestly, I don't know right now, man.", Pope answered him. "I mean, I definitely like her."

"Sure."

"And I'm pretty sure she likes me.", Pope added.

"Seems like it."

"Right now, there's a lot of conflicting information going on.", Pope continued to ramble on. "Like, I'm trying to gather all the data and put into a folder in my mind-"

"A folder?", John B asked.

"All right, man, look. Women... like... they're just not consistent.", JJ spoke up after he sat down near them on the boat.

"All right, we're not gonna take female advice from JJ.", John B shook his head.

"No, no, no. Listen.", JJ looked over at John B, then to Pope before saying, "Like... Willow, for instance. One minute, she's like all over me..."

"And that is where you stop talking about my sister.", John B stopped him before he could finish his sentence.

"Pope has got to hear this.", JJ shot him a look of disapproval for cutting him off, averting his gaze over to Pope. "I mean... Willow is... she's got pizazz to her, all right?"

"Pizazz?", Pope asked with a laugh.

"Absolutely. She's all over me one second and then the next she's ready to bite my head off. See? No consistency.", JJ kept on talking, glancing between both boys. "There's some moments that I can't read her... and Pope it sucks, man. But if Kiara is anything like Willow..."

"She's not.", Pope shook his head, watching as JJ raised an eyebrow.

"If you would kindly let me finish.", JJ placed a hand over his chest, taking in a deep breath before saying, "If she's anything like Willow, and she is because she is a girl, then it's all about patience. I mean... Willow and I are the prime example of success comes to those who wait."

"So, you're saying I have to wait for like... eight years of my life to get the girl I want like you did?", Pope joked, which made John B laugh.

"It was not eight years.", JJ commented, rolling his eyes.

"You were eight when you two met.", John B looked at JJ with a grin. "You've been dreaming about her since you were eight, dude."

"In my defense... she's worth it.", JJ shrugged.

"All right, lover boy.", John B shook his head, looking over at Pope. "Tell me more about this Limbrey chick. You think she knew my pops?"

"I don't know. But I do think that she has the information that could exonerate you.", Pope responded.

"That'd be ideal.", John B replied.

"Not to throw a monkey wrench in the entire thing, but she did just try to kidnap you.", JJ spoke. "How many times do I gotta say this?"

"Here we go.", John B looked at Pope before looking back at JJ.

"Why are we going back? Why don't we go south? Why don't we go grab up Willow right quick and go to Yucatan? Coast of Broken Dreams, baby!", JJ asked the two of them.

"No, no, dude! I'm not running anymore.", John B was quick to say. "Look, OBX is my home. And besides, if I go back, I get another shot at Ward."

꧁꧂

Willow didn't leave her house all day, too worried about JJ, Pope, and Kiara to even try to do anything rash out of anger. She was beyond pissed over Gabby and Kelce, but part of her knew that if she were to do anything she'd make matters worse. The whole town seemed to be talking down on her over being related to John B and she was sure that if she did something crazy, then it wouldn't look good on the Routledge bloodline. So, she was going to stay away from drinking because alcohol was going to be her fuel to do something drastic.

However, she knew that when JJ came back home, he was going to be livid over the black eye, bruised nose, and busted lip she was sporting. Her own anger would have been drowned out by the rage emitting off of him. It was no secret that JJ Maybank was violent when he was angry, but to see his girl beaten up would send him over the edge. The thing she dreaded the most was the fact she had to tell him that Kelce held her in place as it was happening. It wasn't like JJ needed an extra amount of reason to hate the guy, but any time he heard about Kelce it was something fucked up.

Willow decided to leave her home a few hours later to get out and walk around town to get her mind off things. She knew just the person she wanted to go see; Gladys. It had been about a week since she'd seen her and she knew that she just needed someone to listen to her rant since her friends and boyfriend weren't back yet. That and her mother was still in the hospital. The doctor told her and Shoupe that she'd be kept in for a few more days to keep an eye on her. Her mother hated the fact, due to not having insurance. Willow hated to see her mother so helpless and she just prayed to a God that she wasn't quite sure she believed in that her mother wouldn't relapse due to depression.

Once she arrived to the local supermarket in town, her eyes scanned the entire store to see some people staring at her. She bit the inside of her cheek before quickly heading over to the edge of the counter by the register Gladys was working at. She spoke up softly, "Hey, Mrs. Gladys."

The older lady glanced over, eyes widening at the young girls' appearance. "Oh, dear... what happened to you?"

"Nothing important. Just got into a fight with an old friend.", She hopped up on the counter to sit on since she hadn't had any customers in line.

"A friend doesn't do that.", She shook her head, concern written on her face. "You're taking this hard, aren't you?"

"About John B, or..."

"Your mama, honey.", She frowned slightly, not knowing where John B was, or even knowing if he was okay. For all Gladys knew, Willow lost her brother and almost lost her mother.

"I just- I get she might not be delightful to others...", Willow paused as she looked down at her hands. "But to try and kill her? It's-"

"There's too much murder going on around here. Locals are getting scared to even leave their homes.", Gladys cut her off, watching as Willow glanced up lazily. "First with Peterkin... and what they're saying about..."

"John B?", Willow asked, letting out a sigh before shaking her head. "You know it wasn't him, right?"

"Look... there's no telling. We weren't there, but no... it doesn't seem like a thing he'd do.", Gladys answered honestly, watching as Willow hopped off of the counter.

"Exactly.", She nodded, looking to the left to see a customer coming to her line. "How many others think it's not him?"

"Well-"

"Willow, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.", The general manager came walking up to them, glaring down at the younger girl. The same manager that fired her for speaking her mind. "You're distracting my workers."

"Of course. Wouldn't want them to get distracted from working their asses off just to not get paid what they're worth, right?", Willow replied with a snarky attitude, watching as the manager rolled her eyes.

"Out, now.", She pointed toward the door as Willow raised her hands up in defense.

"Alright, alright. Don't blow a gasket.", She looked over at Gladys, waving her goodbye before she turned around. "Have a great rest of your day, Mrs. Gladys. Bye, Barbara."

"Yeah, yeah.", Barbara waved her off in annoyance. "Just don't come back in here airing out your business like that. Don't need my customers to be scared to walk in here with you looking like that."

Willow glanced over at her shoulder, then looked around to see every customer staring at her now. The blonde girl scoffed, eyes meeting Barbara's once more when she opened the door. She quickly raised her middle finger in the air, grinning before saying, "The only reason your customers are scared is because of that hack job of a hairdo you got."

Without listening to anything the woman started saying, she walked out of the supermarket with an eyeroll. She saw a few people walking down the street, glancing over at her which made her annoyed. Some of them had been kooks and she didn't care to even think about what Gabby or Kelce had said about her. Willow had gotten a text from one of her classmates who said they overheard the chatter from kooks about her. Willow told them she didn't care to know and that wasn't a lie; Willow did not care.

She walked for a few minutes before she heard someone whisper from behind her. "That's her?"

"Yeah. Kelce said that she broke up with him because she liked Gabby."

Willow simply rolled her eyes, groaning before she stopped in her tracks. She took in a deep breath before turning on her heels to look at two kook girls, watching as they stared at her with widened eyes. She glanced between the two before saying, "Kelce is a fucking liar. Kelce knows exactly what happened to make me leave his stupid ass. And Gabby...? Fuck Gabby. She's lucky she had Kelce hold me back, or I would've pounded her fucking face in."

The two girls just laughed it off as they walked away, which resulted in Willow's anger rising. She just brushed it off, walking in the opposite direction of the girls before pulling the hood of her jacket up over her head. She yanked on the strings of the hood in frustration as she walked down to Geechie's. She promised herself she wouldn't buy alcohol, but she just wanted to relax a bit. The only way she would know how to relax is if she talked to one of the workers there; Damon Sanders.

Once she walked in, she pulled her hood off and looked around for him. Once she saw him, his eyes locked with her own before he took in her appearance. She approached him by the counter, giving him a smile as he rolled his eyes. "What is it, Willow?"

"I need some weed.", She spoke bluntly, watching him glance around the store before leaning closer to her.

"Dude, be a bit quieter.", He spoke in a low tone.

"Sorry.", She watched as he walked around the counter, nodding over to one of the other workers.

"Hey, I'm gonna step out back for a sec.", He spoke before nudging her toward the back door. Once they were outside, he looked down at her. "Okay, so let me ask you something. You piss me off at school and then come begging me for weed? Can't your boyfriend get you some easily? Like... dude has mad connections."

"He could if he were home.", She shrugged. He was right though. JJ usually got his weed from his cousin, Ricky.

"I'm not gonna ask because honestly, I don't give a shit. But... my parents found my shit and took it. So, I have none and even if I did, I wouldn't-"

"Got it.", She nodded as she let out a sigh, glancing around as she ran her hands through her hair.

"What happened to you?", He asked suddenly.

"Kooks.", She met his gaze, crossing her arms over her chest. "It's always the kooks."

"Right.", He nodded, looking down at his feet. "Look... I gotta get back to work, Willow. I'm sorry, I can't help."

"Yeah.", She nodded. "Yeah, no... I get it. And also... I'm sorry for being a dick in class."

He stared at her for what felt like a long time, trying to decipher if she was being genuine or not. Once he realized she was, he smiled slightly. "Nah, man... it's cool. I was being a douche about you and JJ. We cool?"

"Yeah.", She nodded. "As long as you promise me a case of beer."

"What kind?", He rolled his eyes playfully.

"Coors Banquet.", She replied.

"Really?", He looked at her in disgust. "That's awful."

"It's the one I haven't tried yet.", She laughed.

"Yeah, and there's a reason for that.", He shook his head, opening the back door before nodding his head in the direction for her to go in first. "But you're a paying customer, I can't judge."

"Exactly.", She gave him a toothy smile as she walked in, following him to the counter once they grabbed the case. She gave him the money, knowing she was going to regret buying the alcohol. She could never really trust herself with it alone. She put her hood back on to hide her face so that others wouldn't stare before looking back at Damon. "Thanks, D."

"Sure thing.", He nodded. She grabbed the case of beer, turning to walk away. She made it out of the store, but before she could make it down the stairs completely; someone bumped into her going in. It only made her drop her case of beer, making her cringe as she heard all the bottles break because of it. She watched as the beer spilled all over the stairs, nodding slowly as she just let it happen.

"Just my fucking luck.", She let out a deep breath of air. At this point, she just wanted to throw something or even break something. It had not been her day, nor had it been her week. Nor month. Nor year. And to top it off, she heard the same person come out of the store as they laughed at her standing there looking at it. Except, she knew that laugh. In fact, she adored that laugh.

"That's what you get for buying that nasty shit.", He joked as he walked past her, not caring to look at her as he passed her with a case of Natural Light. She took her hood off her head, grinning from ear to ear as she watched him make it down the steps completely.

"Jackass.", She spoke before she watched him turn his head to look at her. She noticed the way he took in her appearance, furrowing his eyebrows as he set down his case of beer.

"Bee...? What the hell?", He asked as she made her way down the steps, being quick to wrap her arms around his neck. She felt his hands slide across her back before he held onto her tightly. That was until the hug no longer distracted him from the fact she was beaten up. He quickly pulled away, cupping her cheeks into the palms of his hands as his chest heaved. "Who the fuck did this to you?"

"It's a long story.", She answered softly, feeling his thumb graze over her bottom lip. "I'm okay, Jay."

"No.", He stated in a deeper voice than usual as he shook his head, glancing around to see if anyone was staring. His eyes darted back down to capture her own gaze, noticing the desperation in her glistening eyes. "You can tell me on the boat ride."

"Oh, fun.", She joked as he pulled his hands away from her face, reaching down to grab his case of beer. She glanced behind her to see Damon walking outside with a broom, feeling bad he had to clean it up. She'd have to make it up to him somehow.

"And no joking about it, okay?", He placed his free hand on the middle of her back, sliding it down slowly to nudge her to walk quickly as his eyes scanned the area.

"No, of course not. It's no joking matter.", She joked once more, clearing her throat as she met his glare. "Relax, JJ."

He simply shook his head, taking his hand away from her back as they made it to where he had docked the boat. The only thing was that he had failed to mention the fact that Kiara and Pope had been on the boat. Not only that, but Sarah and John B were as well. Her eyes widened at the sight, stopping in her tracks which made JJ stop as well. He looked down at her in confusion, following her gaze over to the others before he realized what was happening. "Oh, shit... that's right. We found John B and Sarah."

Her eyes found his own again, furrowing her eyebrows. "And you don't think to tell-"

"If you were in my shoes, you'd understand how it slipped my mind.", He spoke, referring to her face.

"Right.", She nodded before walking down the docks toward the boat. A huge smile was plastered on her face as she approached it, watching as the others looked up to see her. "Oh, captain. My captain."

John B's eyes locked with her own, noticing the sly grin rising from her lips after she referenced an old poem that Big John loved to quote all the time. "Rise up and hear the bells."

She stepped onto the boat, quickly hugging him once he stood up. "I swear to God, if you ever want to get lost out at sea... take me with you next time."

"Well, hopefully that won't happen again.", John B laughed as he pulled away, quickly signaling to her face with a frown.

"Kooks.", She nodded before turning her head over her shoulder to look at JJ, who had already been looking at her the moment she said it. "Gabby and... Kelce."

"What?", His eyes turned cold, watching her closely as she walked over to Sarah to give her a hug.

"Hi, Sarah.", She smiled sweetly as she pulled away, turning to look at Kiara and Pope with a smile before locking eyes with JJ again. "Right after I got off the phone with you, Gabby and Kelce came into my house."

Pope started to drive the boat away from the docks as they all sat near Willow as she explained. Kiara furrowed her eyebrows. "Why would they do that?"

"The night we went to spy on Gavin... we passed through Sean's yard.", She looked at Kiara, then at the others. "And I mentioned to Gabby that I hadn't forgotten spring break."

"Okay? How is this relevant, Willow?", JJ was quick to ask, not liking the fact she was taking forever to tell it.

"Gabby thought that me saying that meant I told you guys something I swore to keep a secret.", She let out a breath of air, not looking JJ in the eyes when she said the next thing. "She thought I told you guys that she kissed me."

"Whoa.", Kiara perked up. "That's new."

"It's not.", Willow shot her a look. "She thought I liked her, and I did not... so, she kissed me."

"Was this before or after Kelce?", Sarah asked curiously.

"During.", Willow answered her.

"So, what... Gabby got pissed and came to beat the shit out of you?", John B asked, putting two and two together.

"You should be a detective. Detective Routledge.", She joked, hearing Sarah and Kiara laugh. "Got a nice ring to it."

"What's Kelce's role in this story?", JJ asked, unamused by her joke due to the anger in him from her getting hurt like that.

"He held me back so she could throw a few punches.", Her eyes finally met his, noticing how unrecognizable they were in this moment. "That isn't the only reason she did that to me, though. She accused me of stabbing my mother. Called me a psycho just like John B."

"Thanks, Willow.", John B nodded.

"No problem.", She quickly responded, a grin forming from her lips when she looked at him. Just having him back on the island washed away all her problems at the moment. She missed him dearly.

"I'll kill him.", JJ stood up, running his hands through his hair.

"Well, I also threatened them so they might go crying to Shoupe.", Willow spoke up, watching as he placed his hands on his hips and looked at her through half-lidded eyes. She couldn't help the smile that rose on her face. "Will you relax? I'm fine. Or... I'm not since you owe me for destroying my case of beer."

Finally, a small hint of a smile formed from his lips as he struggled to keep a straight face. John B stood up, patting his best friend on the back. "Shame on you. What did the beer ever do to you?"

"It was Coors.", He smirked, eyes meeting with Willow's. "Nasty ass shit belongs on the ground anyways."

"I'll have you know, I've never tried it.", Willow crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well, today isn't the day you do.", He laughed before walking over toward Pope with John B.

"I sense something.", Sarah commented, glancing between the two blonde pogues. "Something feels different about you two."

"Oh, yeah.", Kiara nodded, letting out a laugh. "They're kind of... well..."

"He's...", Willow smiled from ear to ear as she stared at JJ. "My boyfriend."

"But... no pogue on pogue? What ever happened to that?", Sarah joked.

"That never applied to us.", Willow rolled her eyes playfully.

"It was bound to happen.", Kiara nudged Willow as the girls laughed together. "It was mainly made because I joined the group."

"Yeah, they were scared I was gonna go crazy over her. They didn't want to lose her to a girl.", Willow jokingly said, glancing between both of them to see their eyebrows raised in amusement.

"And that's probably why Gabby thought you liked her...", Sarah shook her head with a smile.

"Cause I make jokes?", Willow laughed.

"No, you idiot. You're just a very flirtatious person.", Kiara shook her head, rolling her eyes playfully. Willow locked eyes with her, nodding along to what she said slowly before smiling from ear to ear.

"Oh, whatever.", Willow responded. "Besides, Gabby and I were drinking."

"Mhm.", Kiara nodded. "Drunk Willow flirts way more than sober Willow."

"That's not true.", She shook her head, furrowing her eyebrows together.

"That's so true. You flirted with me at one of the kook parties before.", Sarah nudged her. "The night I asked you to change shirts with me cause mine wreaked of beer. I was so scared my dad was going to be mad if I came home smelling like it. And you said..."

"At least take me out to eat before asking me to strip down for you.", Willow laughed, remembering the look on Sarah's after she said it. "Okay, fine... so what? You know you wanted me in that bathroom."

"See!? God!", Sarah playfully shoved her into Kiara before all the girls laughed, catching the guys' attention rather quickly.

"Okay, it's just playful banter.", Willow placed her hand on Sarah's shoulder. "It's like when JJ tries to make Pope uncomfortable."

"When has he ever...?", Kiara was quick to ask before the blonde pogue looked at her.

"When JJ flirted with me after we got chased by Gary, I turned him down and said it was Pope he wanted. Then he said...", Willow trailed off, trying to remember exactly what he said. "God... what did he say?"

"He said I was a beautiful specimen.", Pope spoke as he walked up to the girls to sit beside Kie on the boat. The two blonde girls glanced over at each other, sharing a knowing look before looking back at Pope. "JJ wants me, Lo."

"See.", Willow glanced between both girls. "Even Pope does it. It's playful banter. That's all."

"What is?", JJ asked as he stood in front of them, leaving John B to drive the boat.

"She said she only playfully flirts with people to make them uncomfortable.", Kiara answered him, watching as he locked eyes with Willow. A grin was soon plastered on his face at the thought.

"Yeah, it's what I do with Pope.", JJ spoke.

"Thank you!", She stood up, turning to face the three pogues she had been sitting with before he walked up to them. "And besides my real flirting is done for. Those days are over after I successfully pulled JJ."

"Uhm. No.", JJ shook his head. "I pulled you."

"Yeah, sure.", Willow nodded sarcastically. "We all know that I pulled you."

"Bullshit.", He looked at the others, noticing them trying to keep their laughter on the inside. "Okay. Vote time."

"No.", Pope shook his head. "No need to vote. JJ wins easily."

"Boom!", JJ looked at Willow, watching her roll her eyes with a grin.

"He's biased cause he's a guy.", Willow looked at Sarah and Kiara.

"I don't know... I wasn't here.", Sarah placed her hands up, looking at Kiara as the other three did as well.

"Well...", Kiara paused, glancing between the two blonde idiots. "I gotta say... I'm with Willow on this."

"Ha!", Willow looked up at JJ, who shook his head before turning to look at John B.

"John B?", JJ walked up to him, which made Willow do the same in case JJ tried to butter him up. "Who pulled who? Me or Willow?"

"Oh, easy.", John B looked between the two before saying, "Willow."

"Biased. Your brother.", JJ was quick to say as he looked down at his girlfriend.

"So? He's your best friend.", Willow shrugged, leaning close to say in a teasingly tone. "Since the third grade."

A/N - I know I said at the end of the last chapter that shit is about to hit the fan and I wasn't lying! It's just gonna be a few more chapters away! I enjoyed writing this chapter a lot and it took me forever for this one because I wanted to have the moment where Willow and JJ reunite after the trip from Charleston to fit their characters really well. Hopefully, I succeeded in staying true to JJ's character in this chapter. Also, just a heads up because I know everyone hates her and same here but... Ruthie will make an appearance in one of the chapters of this book. That is everyone's trigger warning.